The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently developing guidelines to contain the spread of monkeypox.

There are fears that the number of cases could rise further in the summer months, WHO chief adviser on infection risks David Heymann told Reuters on Saturday.

The WHO assumes that the outbreak was triggered by sexual contact.

So far, monkeypox has appeared in eleven countries where it does not usually spread.

Scientists consider this to be very unusual.

Monkeypox occurs mainly in Africa and rarely elsewhere.

More than 100 confirmed or suspected cases have been reported so far, most of them in Europe.

Germany is also affected.

Probably no new pandemic outbreak

Close contact is the most important transmission route for the virus, said Heymann.

For example, parents who take care of sick children are just as at risk as health workers.

He stressed that the monkeypox outbreak was not comparable to the early days of the coronavirus pandemic because the disease is not as easily transmitted.

Two cases of monkeypox had previously been confirmed in Berlin.

This was announced by the Senate Department for Health on Saturday.

The condition of the two patients is stable.

Contact persons are currently being investigated.

Sequencing should reveal whether it is the West or Central African strain of the virus.

"It can be assumed that further infections may be registered in the next few days."

No reason to panic, but reason to be careful

Health Senator Ulrike Gote (Greens) said there was no reason to panic, but reason to be cautious, as many scientific findings about the disease were still preliminary.

“However, experts assume that we do not have to fear a new pandemic.

But we now have to act quickly and consistently to identify and contain cases of infection.”

The health administration is in close contact with the health authorities, the Robert Koch Institute, the Charité and the Federal Ministry of Health in order to protect the Berlin population from the monkeypox virus as best as possible.

Prof. Leif Erik Sander, Head of Infectious Diseases at the Charité University Hospital in Berlin, pointed out that the dynamics of the current monkeypox outbreak are unusual and must be taken very seriously.

"So far we have observed a disproportionate increase in monkeypox infections among men, especially after sexual contact with other men."

Transmission through close skin contact

Since the infection is transmitted through close skin contact and possibly also through mucous membrane contact and droplets, he recommends particular caution and avoidance of close unprotected contact with unknown people.

"Especially if there are typical symptoms of the disease, you should limit contacts and seek medical treatment quickly," says Sander.

"The Charité is prepared for the treatment of infected people and works closely with the RKI and the public health service."